Indiana Motorcycle Historical Society

10/03/2026

𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟑, 𝟏𝟖𝟗𝟒, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 "𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞" 𝐢𝐬 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝..
Edward Joel Pennington was born in Moore’s Hill, Indiana in 1858. Although he didn’t stay in Indiana for very long, his early years in the state shaped him to automobile and motorcycle fame as well as equal infamy.

Pennington submitted two documents detailing his versions of early motorcycles. The most interesting note is the fact that the term “motor cycle” is traced to these documents and exact year. Both documents declared Pennington as the assignor for the "Motor Cycle Company of Chicago.”

Edward J Pennington
https://www.imchs.net/2021/10/Edward-J-Pennington.html

09/13/2026

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Rollie Free became an Indian motorcycle dealer in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1927. While living in Indianapolis, his reputation as an top-notch racer earned him a ride in the 1930 Indianapolis 500. His car blew a motor after 172 miles of racing. Rollie Free raced one more time in the May classic, again ending the race early with mechanical problems.

𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟑, 𝟏𝟗𝟒𝟖..
On this day, September 13, 1948, Roland Robert "Rollie" Free broke the US national motorcycle speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah riding the first Vincent Black Lightning. During test runs Free reached average speeds of 148.6 mph.

To reduce drag, Free stripped to his swimming shorts for the final run, which he made lying flat with his legs stretched out and his head low, guiding the Vincent by following a black stripe painted on the salt bed. The stunt worked as Free covered the mile in 23.9 seconds, passing the 150 mph barrier and on the return run he reached a record average speed of 150.313 mph.

This led to one of the most famous photographs in motorcycle history, known as the "bathing suit bike". The American Motorcyclist Association certified Free's record. Innovative features of the bike included the first-ever Vincent rear shock absorber, the first Mk II racing cams and horizontally mounted racing carburetors.

Rollie Free became an Indian motorcycle dealer in Indianapolis, Indiana in 1927. While living in Indianapolis, his reputation as an top-notch racer earned him a ride in the 1930 Indianapolis 500. His car blew a motor after 172 miles of racing. Rollie Free raced one more time in the May classic, again ending the race early with mechanical problems.

After the record run, Free joked about making the run in his swimming trunks. "𝘐 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘸𝘪𝘮𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘯𝘬𝘴 𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘢 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘌𝘥 𝘒𝘳𝘦𝘵𝘻, 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘶𝘴𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘥𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘚𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘯 𝘊𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘢 𝘥𝘳𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴."

During World War II, Free entered the Air Force and was stationed at Hill Field in Utah. While in Utah, Free got his first chance to see the famous Bonneville Salt Flats.

A few years after the war, a Hollywood sportsman named John Edgar asked Free to come to the Bonneville to make a motorcycle speed record attempt on a Vincent. The team was sponsored by Mobil Oil.

In 1950, Rollie Free returned to the Bonneville Salt Flats and broke his own record, averaging speeds of 156.58 mph on the Vincent despite a high-speed crash during those speed trials.

He died, October 11, 1984 in Los Angeles, California at the age of 83. He was posthumously inducted into the Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.

Pictured:
Rollie Free, laying horizontally on his bike to reduce wind resistance on September 13, 1948. ~JD

Sources:
Indiana Motorcycle Historical Society
National Motorcycle Museum

Photo attribution:
Wikipedia

09/12/2026

𝐄𝐫𝐰𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝟏𝟕,𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟐, 𝟏𝟗𝟏𝟖..
On this day, September 12, 1918, Erwin George "Cannonball" Baker, completed his most extensive motorcycle tour - a 17,000 mile, 77-day trip to all 48 US state capitals - yet another testament to his legendary endurance.

Baker began his public career as a vaudeville performer, but turned to driving and racing after winning a dirt-track motorcycle race in Crawfordsville, Indiana in about 1904. Baker was also famous for his record-setting point-to-point drives, in which he was paid to promote the products of various motorcycle and automobile manufacturers.

In all, he made 143 cross-country motorcycle speed runs totaling about 550,000 miles. In 1908, Baker purchased an Indian motorcycle and began entering and winning local races. His most famous victory came in 1909 at the first race ever held at the newly built Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Baker also raced at the 1922 Indianapolis 500, placing 11th in a Frontenac.

He later became the first commissioner of NASCAR. Baker was inducted into the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America in 1989 and the American Motorcyclist Association Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 1998.

Source: IMCHS.net
Photo: Motorcyclism

09/12/2026

𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦 𝐂. ‘𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥” 𝐂𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐨𝐫..
William C. ‘Bill” Cummings Junior was a hero to Central Indiana racing fans as he grew up on Indianapolis’ near west side two miles from Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he found glory in 1934. Here is Bill Cummings Junior posed on his Harley Davidson motorcycle in 1934.

Photo attribution: Indianapolis Motor Speedway Collection

09/12/2026

𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐄𝐥𝐤𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐭, 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚..
Parade being held in Elkhart, Indiana. The main unit is led by an unidentified man holding a "Tribe of Ben Hur" banner. Behind him are three motorcycles with attached side cars. Circa @ 1918.

Photo attribution: Elkhart County Historical Society

09/12/2026

𝐇𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐭..
Real "Hoosier Hot Shot" is Devon "Zeke" Wenger of Goshen, Indiana.

08/14/2026

𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟒, 𝟏𝟗𝟎𝟗..
On this date, August, 14, 1909, the first motorsport event at the newly built Indianapolis Motor Speedway was held, it consisted of seven motorcycle races. Indiana born Erwin George "Cannon Ball" Baker competed in the ten-mile amateur championship.

This was originally planned as a two-day, 15-race program, but ended before the first day was completed due to concerns over suitability of the track surface for motorcycle use. The motorcycle races predated automobile races at the track, under the sanction of the Federation of American Motorcyclists (F.A.M.).

According to the Indianapolis Star, the event lacked a large number of entries due to racer Jake DeRosier’s recent accident on the unpaved gravel track and fear on the part of some of the drivers about being badly injured themselves. Baker, already regarded as a daredevil racer and “rider of great skill and nerve,” took home first place in the event in a time of 11:31 1-5.

Pictured: Starting line of a motorcycle race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway on August 14, 1909.
Photo credits: IUPUI Indianapolis Motor Speedway Collection

1909 Motorcycle Trophy That Nobody Won
motorcyclistonline.com/1909-motorcycle-trophy-from-indy-that-nobody-won/
🎥This Day in History: August 14, 1909
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrVFuaHHkn4&t=2s

08/14/2026

𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞, 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐚..

06/13/2026

• 𝐎𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟑, 𝟏𝟗𝟏𝟕 •
On this day, June 13, 1917, Alan Bedell left Los Angeles, California on his Henderson motorcycle arriving in New York City traveling 3,296 miles in seven days, sixteen hours and fifteen minutes later, breaking the record set by "Cannonball" Baker on an Indian Twin.

The Henderson motorcycle suffered just one flat tire, went through three sets of Champion spark plugs and used three Duckworth chains. Bedell suffered just one crash, which somewhat damaged his knee, on a wet road in Indianapolis and averaged 17.89 mph.

Using the stock 3.5 gal gas tank, Bedell's only changes to the machine were the addition of a Mesinger air cushion saddle and a Carlton generator to power the original Coffman spotlight.

Unfortunately, the young Californian was not to make or break many more records, as tragically his young life ended a short time later when he fell victim to the influenza epidemic of the First World War. Bedell died on February 24, 1918 at age 21.

𝙋𝙝𝙤𝙩𝙤: Alan Bedell when he set a transcontinental record in 1917.

𝘼𝙡𝙖𝙣 𝘽𝙚𝙙𝙚𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙩 𝙁𝙞𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙂𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚 findagrave.com/memorial/143715088/alan-t_-bedell

05/10/2026

On this day, May 10, 1960, Erwin George "Cannonball" Baker, a motorcycle and automobile racing driver and organizer in the first half of the 20th century, died of a heart attack at Community Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana, he was 78.

Baker set 143 driving records from the 1910's through the 1930's. His first was set in 1914, riding coast to coast on an Indian motorcycle in 11 days. He normally rode to sponsor manufacturers, guaranteeing them "no record, no money".

In 1915, Baker drove from Los Angeles to New York City in 11 days, 7 hours and fifteen minutes in a Stutz Bearcat, and the following year drove a Cadillac 8 roadster from Los Angeles to Times Square in seven days, eleven hours and fifty-two minutes while accompanied by an Indianapolis newspaper reporter.

In 1924 he made his first midwinter transcontinental run in a stock Gardner sedan at a time of 4 days, 14 hours and 15 minutes. He was so impressed by the car, that he purchased one thereafter. In 1926 he drove a loaded two-ton truck from New York to San Francisco in a record five days, seventeen hours and thirty minutes, and in 1928, he beat the 20th Century Limited train from New York to Chicago.

Also in 1928, he competed in the Mount Washington Hillclimb Auto Race, and set a record time of 14:49.6 seconds, driving a Franklin. His best-remembered drive was a 1933 New York City to Los Angeles trek in a Graham-Paige model 57 Blue Streak 8, setting a 53.5 hour record that stood for nearly 40 years.

This drive inspired the later Cannonball Baker Sea-To-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, better known as the "Cannonball Run", which itself inspired at least five movies and a television series.

In 1941, he drove a new Crosley Covered Wagon across the nation in a trouble free 6,517-mile run to prove the economy and reliability characteristics of Crosley automobiles. Other record and near-record transcontinental trips were made in Model T Fords, Chrysler Imperials, Marmons, Falcon-Knights and Columbia Tigers, among others. He is buried at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.

Story via: x.com/IMCHSociety
Photo attribution: Josef Lebovic Gallery
Photo details: E.G. Baker With 1916 Model Indian Motorcycle, Outside Art Gallery Of New South Wales, Sydney